Seahorse
By Kat Halstead,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Important transgender pregnancy doc has strong language.
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Seahorse
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What's the Story?
In SEAHORSE (also known as SEAHORSE: THE DAD WHO GAVE BIRTH) Freddy McConnell is a gay transgender man who decides to try and get pregnant. He stops taking testosterone and visits a sperm clinic, initially with a trans partner -- with whom he intends to co-parent -- but then with his mother as he decides to go it alone. From the positive pregnancy test to the birth of his son, the documentary follows Freddy's struggles with his changing body and emotions, as well as his concerns about communicating his journey to those he loves and the outside world.
Is It Any Good?
This brave and unflinching documentary offers insight into an experience rarely seen or talked about. It is an important opportunity for those unaware of the trans experience to go on a journey with Freddy and those close to him, and to see first-hand the problematic issues that still surround gender identity in the modern world. The title references the way in which male seahorses carry their young. Director Jeanie Finlay uses undersea images as well as footage of Freddy as a child to further express his journey as his decreasing testosterone and changing body make him think about his old name and pronouns.
Freddy is open and generous providing access to himself and those around him over the course of three years. Seahorse captures the daily micro-aggressions he experiences -- from the gendered language used by medical professionals to behavior from those around him -- that force him to keep explaining and defending his desire to do something that is essentially the most natural thing: to bring another human into the world.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about some of the transgender issues raised in Seahorse. What are some of the obstacles Freddy comes up against and how does he overcome them? Did you learn anything about issues surrounding being transgender that you were not aware of before?
What is transgender representation like in the media? Can you think of other trans characters in films and TV? LGBTQ movies for teens.
Talk about the language used in the movie. Does it make a difference that the film is a real-life documentary rather than a scripted movie? If so, why?
Discuss the relationship between Freddy and his mother? What makes them so close? How did this compare to Freddy's relationship with his father?
How are documentaries a good way of telling people's stories? What other issues have you learned about through documentaries? Do you have a favorite documentary? What are some of the best documentaries to watch?
Movie Details
- In theaters: August 30, 2019
- On DVD or streaming: June 16, 2020
- Cast: Freddy McConnell
- Director: Jeanie Finlay
- Studio: Glimmer Films
- Genre: Documentary
- Topics: Activism
- Character Strengths: Courage, Perseverance
- Run time: 91 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: March 27, 2023
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